This chapter is a bit more explicit than others. If you are concerned, do not read past the name Anne Amelia.
April 19th, 1559
Hampton Court Palace
Edward paced back and forth in his privy chamber, while Northumberland sat across from him, looking rather bored.
"Your Majesty, you can always remarry." He reminded him.
Edward glared, but said nothing. Isabella had gone into labor for the fifth time since they had been married, yet the fear never seemed to leave him. Death and childbirth seemed to go hand in hand, especially when he remembered his own mother had died because of his birth. Citing that Isabella had survived four births, including one with twins was no comfort to him. Any child could bring a woman to her grave.
"Northumberland, surely you must have felt anxious when your wife was in childbirth?" Edward inquired.
Northumberland shook his head. "Not after the first child. The first child is always the hardest, after the first I ceased to worry."
Edward nodded. "There is just something about this birth that is different to me. Perhaps it is another daughter."
Northumberland sighed. "I have never seen a king that hopes for daughters the way others hope for sons. All a girl is good for is alliances."
"We need alliances. Navarre, Denmark, and the Germanies all have heirs that will need wives. I would prefer that they be my daughters than the Empire. The Empire tries to keep the Germanies in the Catholic fold, as France does with Navarre. We must break the cycle. Protestant wives for Protestant rulers." Edward retorted.
Northumberland nodded. "I agree, Your Majesty. England needs her allies, now more than ever"
Edward nodded, then continued to pace. He could hear Isabella's cries as she went through her labor, and part of him wanted to run inside her chambers and ensure that she would survive. He knew he couldn't, men weren't allowed in the birthing chambers, not even the royal physicians could enter. He was forced to put his faith in Lady Sancha and Lady Madeleine, who were working to deliver the child. He would have preferred to have Lady Norfolk, but she had just delivered her own daughter, Lady Rebecca Howard, only a few weeks earlier. Lady Mariana had returned home to do her confinement, so Edward had no choice but to trust Madeleine, who he felt was too inexperienced to deliver the babe. However, he did trust Sancha and having her in the room did calm his nerves.
"You are going to make your self sick, Your Majesty." Northumberland said absently.
Edward sat in a chair and began tapping his foot.
Northumberland sighed in exasperation. "Go visit your children in the nursery. I will tell them where to find you."
"I want to be here when they arrive." Edward shook his head and continued to tap his foot.
"I cannot deal with this, Your Majesty." Northumberland grumbled.
Edward rose to his feet and stretched. "Perhaps I will go see the children."
"Thank you,' Northumberland mumbled.
As Edward walked down the corridor, he could hear Isabella's screams more clearly. He kept walking, knowing there was nothing her could do to help her. As he entered the nursery, he could see Lady Marie gently brushing Jane's hair. Marie jumped to her feet and dropped into a graceful curtsy.
"Your Majesty." Her voice was silky and inviting.
He nodded to her and realized he never paid to attention to her appearance. She had dark blonde hair and clear, ocean blue eyes. She had a smaller frame than Isabella, her hips were narrower, and her pink lips were pulled back in a sweet smile. She was beautiful.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Your Majesty?" She inquired.
He was instantly brought back into reality. "Um, nothing. Nothing at all Lady Marie, you would not mid staying in here with me while we wait for the queen to deliver the child, would you?"
She giggled. "Of course. How can I refuse the king?"
He knew she was flirting with him. He just didn't know if he minded.
He sat in a chair beside Jane's cradle and Marie sat beside him, resuming to brush Jane's hair. His daughter looked up at her father with pale blue eyes. He smiled at her as she reached out to touch his nose. Marie had finished her brushing and placed Jane back in her cradle. He watched her put the blanket over his daughter, then Edward reached out and pulled Marie into his lap. She came easily and smiled warmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" She inquired.
He watched her, looking in her blue eyes and found himself enticed, intrigued even. He knew he had every right to make her his mistress, but he had made promises to Isabella. He promised he would be faithful. He released Marie, but she remained in his lap. She brought her hand to his chin and stroked it. The flesh was soft. He cupped her cheek and brought her close to his own face. He froze. He loved Isabella, yet he had been overtaken by lust for her lady-in-waiting. He was confused. He was the king, he could have both if he wanted to. He didn't need both, his faith assured him of that. He still had Marie in his arms as Isabella was giving birth to his child. To make his actions worse, all three of his surviving children were watching him. Yet, something overtook him as he pressed his lips to Marie's. He felt alive, feeling her soft pink lips against his own. She was receptive, she kissed him back. As they pulled away, she looked at him in surprise.
"Your Majesty, I do not know if the queen will be happy with you having a mistress." She watched him expectantly.
He shook his head. "I apologize. I am not sure what came over me. You must not speak of this to Isabella."
Marie stood. "You have my word. Not a soul shall here for this, Your Majesty."
"I thank you." He nodded.
She walked towards the door and he stared after her. He wanted to posses her, as a mistress. He would never want to annul his marriage to Isabella. Yet, he wanted Marie. Once she reached the door, she turned back to him and blushed a bit. He smiled at her, still unsure of what had possessed him to kiss her. He was supposed to be faithful to his wife, but he was a king. Very few kings were faithful to their queens, not even ones with happy marriages. He loved Isabella with all of his heart and had been faithful to her for the four years they had been married. The feeling that he felt when he had Marie in his arms had lit him afire. She was beautiful and dainty, he knew she was unmarried. His father had a bastard son before he had been born, Henry Fitzroy. Sadly, his half brother died before he was born. His emotions seemed to choke the life out of him. He knew he should be faithful to Isabella, he wanted to be a good husband. Yet, there was something about Marie that had just made his heart pound. He didn't know what he wanted.
A knock at the door disturbed his thoughts.
"Your Majesty, the queen hath delivered a daughter." A voice called.
He turned to see Lady Sarah Veldon standing in the door. He stood and followed her to the birthing chamber. Isabella's familiar face was waiting for him. In her arms was his newest daughter.
"I thought we would name this daughter after my two aunts." She grinned at him, she was clearly pleased with having another daughter.
"Of course we can. What shall it be?" He laughed, heartened to see his young daughter, who had dark red hair like himself.
"Anna Amalia, that is the German way to say it." Isabella rocked the little girl a bit.
"What about in English, my love?" He inquired.
"It would be Anne...Anne Amelia." She mused.
"Ah, Anne Amelia. I will have Northumberland write of it." He turned to leave, he didn't want to be around Isabella in his current state of mind.
He nearly ran back to his privy chamber and Northumberland hadn't moved from where Edward left him.
"It is a girl, she shall be christened Anne Amelia." He announced.
Northumberland nodded dutifully. "Yes, and I supposed we should hope to marry her in Denmark or the Germanies. I intend Jane for Navarre."
Edward nodded absently.
"What ails you now, Ned?" Dudley asked.
"I think I am attracted to one of Isabella's ladies." Edward confessed.
Northumberland shrugged. "You are the king. You can have seven mistresses at once if you would like to. Look at Henry of France!"
Edward sighed. "I promised Isabella I would never lay with another."
Dudley snorted. "It is not as if you cannot break that promise. Which lady is it?"
"Lady Marie, the French one."
Dudley started laughing and Edward glared. "I come to you for advice and you mock me?"
"I mock you because you fought me so hard to marry the German girl instead of a French girl and now you desire a French mistress." Dudley continued laughing.
Edward shook his head. "I do not want any mistress."
"Then you wish to repudiate the queen?" Northumberland grew serious.
Edward slammed his hands on the desk. "I would never repudiate the mother of my four children."
"Then what is it that you ask? Do you wish for your wife to die?" Northumberland shrugged again.
"Absolutely not!" Edward was horrified.
"Then keep the girl as your mistress. I'll send for her at this moment." Northumberland got up and whispered to the servant boy outside the door, then returned to his desk to write letters announcing the birth of the new princess.
"Northumberland, I do not want to be tempted. I have already kissed the lady." Edward pulled on his hair.
Dudley scoffed. "Be a man. Take a mistress, the queen is often oblivious to the happenings at court. Except the political aspect of it. She won't find out."
Edward had no response. The silence in the air was growing heavy with the tension, until at last he heard footsteps. The door swung open to reveal Marie and Dudley gathered his letters and left. Marie stepped in cautiously and Edward remained behind his desk.
"Your Majesty, what is this?" She looked around his room and her eyes rested on a portrait of him, Isabella, and his two eldest children.
Edward rose from behind his desk and brought himself in front of her. He took her hand and kissed it. "I do not know what to make of it, but I will ask you to make your heart mine."
Marie blushed. "Your Majesty, I cannot betray the queen like this."
He put his hands upon her waist and brought her close to him. "I ask that she does not know about this."
"I will do what God governs me to." Marie looked up at him with her dark blue eyes.
Edward released her hips and found her hand again. He brought her inside his bedchamber and led her to a table.
"I want you to tell my about yourself." He sat down and waved a hand to a seat.
She sat. "I guess I shall start with my childhood. I was born in 1540, Catherine was born in 1539. We had a brother, Jean, but he died when I was about 7. We lived in Gascony and my father managed to secure a position at court for me. I served Queen Catherine when I was 13 until she brought me to England. While I was in France, I learned English and Spanish. I also learned to play the harpsichord and the lute. I was betrothed to man at court, but he raped me before I could marry him. England gave me an opportunity to start again. I have found no suitors as of yet, but I do not want to marry anyone who I cannot trust."
Edward nodded. "Trust is important in marriage. A man must be able to trust his wife."
"I trust you, Your Majesty." Marie was back to her flirtatious ways.
Edward rose from his chair and walked behind hers. He gently rubbed his hand on her neck, hearing a soft sigh from her.
"I trust you as well, Lady Marie." He whispered.
He slipped her dress from her shoulders and brought his lips to her neck and chest. He kissed her lips again, he loved the way they tasted. There was something about Marie, something that Isabella didn't have that excited him.
"Your Majesty, the queen will not-" He kissed her again.
"Do you want this to take place?" He inquired.
Marie stood, causing the dress to sink to her ankles. His eyes grew wide, taking in everything. She was smaller proportioned than Isabella, but he didn't care. He removed his hose and doublet, and grabbed her. Kissing her was more exciting than kissing Isabella, who often hesitated. He lifted Marie up and laid her across his bed. He kissed her entire body and she giggled as she watched him explore her. He teased her a bit before climbing on top of her. Her eyes were on him, full of trust. He plunged himself inside and he heard her sigh. He rose and fell inside of her, and she dug her nails into his back. He moved faster, she moved with him. He grunted his release inside of her, not concerned if she would carry his child, part of him wanted her to. He looked at her, laying at his side.
"I want to make you my official mistress. Only we shall know, but you are mine. No man will be allowed to marry you, you are mine." He whispered.
She turned and put her tiny hand on his chest. "Yes, Your Majesty. I shall be yours."
Edward laid there with Marie, satisfied and disgusted with himself. He had fulfilled his urge to sleep with Marie, and he could do so whenever he wished to. However, he had cheated on his wife and could soon have a bastard child. He had admonished the Duke of Norfolk for sleeping with Marie's sister and having a bastard child, yet he was no better. He was a man, and he had urges. As he dozed off with Marie in his arms, he was thinking about Isabella. He betrayed her and there could be proof of it. Northumberland had assured him that it was alright for a king to have a mistress.
Edward just didn't know what he wanted anymore.